2023 Fall Graduation Ceremony and Degree Conferral Ceremony was held

On September 20, the graduation ceremony was held with the attendance of parents and guarantors. For those who were unable to attend, the ceremony was simultaneously streamed on YouTube.

The graduation/degree conferment ceremony was held in Building No. 6.

Students from SESS served as the MC for the ceremony.

The ceremony, with an international flair as many students were foreign language speakers, was conducted in English, with the students of the English Speaking Society (SESS) serving as the MC. The ceremony began with a blessing by Father Antonius Firmansyah (Catholic Jesuit Center), followed by the reading of Luke 8:16-18.

President Terumichi encouraged the graduates in his address at the ceremony.

In his address, President Yoshiaki Terumichi emphasized the significance of the choices we make in society and in our own lives at a time of critical turning points in social change, with technological advancements, increasingly complex international relations, and the emergence of new values. He also addressed that “whatever the circumstances, we ask that you open your heart and mind to those who are in a vulnerable position. I hope that you will continue to pursue responsible choices, making use of your advanced academic expertise, your world-class education, your communication skills to reach consensus with others, and your profound humanity based on our educational spirit of “for others, with others,”” encouraging the graduates.

The graduate delegate expressed enthusiasm for the future.

Degree recipients included 11 doctoral students (including two doctoral students by special exemption), 102 master’s students, and 153 undergraduate students (bachelor’s degree). Degrees were conferred by President Terumichi to all doctoral students in attendance, as well as to representatives from each of the master’s degree programs and undergraduate departments. Following congratulatory speeches by Chancellor Sali Augustin and Masao Torii, President of Sophia Alumni Association, Yui Noguchi (Graduate School of Global Studies) took the podium on behalf of the graduating students to deliver her remarks of acknowledgement.